Welsh Language Champion (Club) An Out of School Childcare Club that has championed the Welsh Language and striven to improve the level of Welsh Language incorporated into the Setting and to support their own learning or the learning of others.

Below are anonymised nominations for the shortlisted Out of School Clubs.

Please read the descriptions below and cast your vote for the winner here.

“They are committed in providing and learning the Welsh language and teaching. Making it fun for the children and for parents and carers alike.”

“This is a well-run, successful service, registered with CIW since July 2014. They provide an Out of School Childcare Club for a maximum of 40 children between the age of three and 12 years with over 80 children on their register. The service is situated approximately 1.5miles from the Prince of Wales Bridge in a primarily English-speaking area. The club has been fully engaged with Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs for many years, often featuring in the Y Bont newsletters, showcasing good practice and taking on any support offered especially when it came to Welsh language initiatives. Staff enrolled on to the Camau Learn Welsh course and then furthered their commitment by enrolling on to the Welsh Promise in September 2023. Staff have always recognised the importance of incorporating Welsh into the setting and had already started integrating some Welsh within the daily routine, even before undertaking the Camau course. I have always been captivated by the enthusiasm and dedication of leadership and staff towards encouraging the use of Welsh within the setting. All staff greet parents every day with a ‘prynhawn da’ and using the Welsh they have. This has resulted in very positive feedback from many parents and guardians regarding their use of the Welsh language, with Welsh speaking guardians commending their efforts and some English medium parents now responding to their greetings in Welsh too.

Staff have also built confidence to include key Welsh vocabulary and short phrases when engaging with their families through ensuring Welsh is included within newsletters, on the notice board and on social media posts. They  achieved the Silver Welsh Promise award in July. In September 24 they  celebrate their 10-year anniversary and celebrated with great parties for the children. This club has updated their latest SASS to say that they are actively working towards the Active Offer with staff eager to continue their great work and commitment towards the Welsh language and the Active Offer.”

“We are an after school club which is based in a primarily English speaking area. We provide care for children aged 4 to 11 years from English medium schools. We understand we were the first provision in the county to be awarded the Welsh Promise Silver Award and are extremely proud of this achievement. Throughout our Welsh Promise journey, we have embedded the Welsh language into our day-to-day routine and in everything we do including; themes, activities, displays, play opportunities and play spaces. Over the last year, our role-play area has been transformed in to ‘Y Gryffalo’ ‘Y Castell’ and ‘Y Milfeddygon’ where we have displayed key Welsh words such as colours, animals and nature.”

“My child comes home from after school club and teaches me some of the Welsh words what the club has taught her. They also have lots of good posters on Welsh all around the club and on their Facebook page.”

We celebrate key dates such as St Dwynwen’s Day and St David’s Day, through displays, activities, loose parts and games. We have an extensive collection of Welsh resources such as books, puzzles, games, reward stickers and posters. We use the Welsh language on our notice boards, emails and Facebook posts. We greet the children, parents and visitors with ‘Prynhawn da’ and use Welsh throughout the session including at snack time and in general conversations. We also have an interactive Welsh Board where the children can take it in turns to come to the board to be asked questions in Welsh. They are encouraged to answer in Welsh and can use the pictures to help them recognise Welsh words associated with the picture. The children are very keen to learn and have a go! We also have a Dysgu Cymraeg folder containing key Welsh vocabulary including colours, days of the week, months of the year and how we are feeling. We have a Welsh mascot, Dewi the Dragon, who goes home for the evening with the child who tries hard to use Welsh during the session. The children love having Dewi and proudly tell their parents/carers what they said to deserve him. We also believe we support our community in the use of the Welsh language, as the church hall we operate from is used by many other members of the community. Our bilingual displays around the hall help others to learn our National language. We are very proud of where we live, our heritage and our language! We are committed to continuing to promote the use of Welsh throughout our sessions in a fun, manageable and engaging way.”

“The club began on their Welsh Promise journey in May 2023 as a bilingual service who was working towards the Welsh Government’s ‘Active Offer’ in relation to the Welsh language. The commitment from the person in charge, and staff to become a Welsh language setting and to offer the Welsh language Active Offer became evident quickly. In January 2024, they counited to progress through the Silver Welsh Promise and support as they worked towards altering their operational language. The club informed Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) in September 2024 that the service is now operating in Welsh. They will now continue onto the Gold Welsh Promise award and work towards achieving their own Cynnig Cymraeg through the Welsh Language Commissioners Office. All staff have worked hard to ensure the Welsh Language is seen and heard throughout the setting.”

“It has been heartwarming, for example at our Easter Club when the children asked me to put some music on and all of their song requests were Welsh songs! Most of the children are from English speaking homes so this certainly highlighted to me the impact we are having.”

“Many of the families have commented how wonderful it is to hear their children converse with siblings in Welsh at home whilst playing.”

“My amazing team have absolutely embraced the Welsh language as a whole and made Welsh so much fun for the children who attend our club. We have even managed to change our operational language from bilingual to Welsh. Super proud and I’m loving how it has made our children keen, confident Welsh speakers. Diolch o galon!!!”

“This club recently became the first Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) registered bilingual day nursery in the area. Since opening in late 2022 as an English-medium provision, the nursery owner  set about her goal to become a bilingual provision offering a service to children and their families though both English and Welsh. As a fluent Welsh speaker, they recognized the benefits of giving children the opportunities to communicate in their preferred language, but also wanted to support families to give their children the chance to learn the Welsh language from a young age. In 2023, staff looking to learn the Welsh language or enhance their existing Welsh language skills, enrolled onto the Camau Learn Welsh course. With support from fluent Welsh speaking staff and a whole team approach, the setting decided to further their commitment to becoming bilingual and signed up to the Cwlwm Welsh Promise. With support from their Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs’ Welsh Language Development Officer, funded by the CYMell project, the setting embarked on the Bronze element of the Welsh Promise, working their way through their tailored action plan to begin embedding the Welsh language into their activities, displays, and communications. In January 2024, the setting was awarded their Bronze certificate and eagerly moved onto the Silver award, which saw them increase their use of Welsh, ensuring the language is seen and heard daily and providing key information bilingually. Once completed, the setting will move on to the Gold award and fully demonstrate their commitment to the future of the Welsh language. The setting’s commitment to promoting and supporting the Welsh language also saw them be very worthy winners of their Council’s Early Years & Play ‘Welsh Language & Culture’ award in March 2024. Becoming a bilingual childcare setting has opened many doors for the club and will see both English and Welsh speaking children and families benefit from being part of a bilingual community. Within just a few weeks of changing their operational language the nursery saw an increase in Welsh speaking families secure places for children because the service can be offered bilingually.”

Cast your vote for the winner here.